Frederick Donald Galyardt

Frederick Donald Galyardt passed away peacefully on November 3, 2025 after a long battle with Alzheimer's.

Don was born on July 26, 1935 in Fort Collins, Colorado to Herman and Odelia (Hergert) Galyardt. He grew up on a farm in northern Colorado and graduated from Timnath High School in 1953. In 1955, he married Patsy Louise Fossett. They were married for 67 years until her passing in 2022.

Don worked for the United States Postal Service in Fort Collins for 37 years. He started as a city carrier but later had a rural mail route and delivered mail east of town. He loved visiting with all the farmers and if needed, stopping to help retrieve a stray cow or horse. He was so proud to be the recipient of the USPS million mile club accident free award, presented to him by The National Safety Council. Needless to say, he was a good driver and enjoyed driving anywhere. Many family vacations included long trips in the car!

After retiring from the USPS, he worked for Spradley Barr as a courtesy driver. He enjoyed this job too as he could drive and meet new people all at the same time! He never knew a stranger.

Don and Patsy lived in Fort Collins until 1983 when they moved to a small acreage in Loveland. They enjoyed having horses and various animals over their 42 years there. He loved the outdoors and whenever you went to visit you would usually find him out in the barn or in the garden! Don and Patsy loved to travel and even went to Sartov, Russia to visit where his mother was born. They enjoyed spending time at their cabin at Red Feather Lakes and in their later years would spend the winter months at their second home in Arizona. There he loved spending time with their "snowbird" friends.

Memories the grandkids and great grandkids have are endless; being pulled behind his horse on an inner tube in the snow, being tucked in at night by the fireplace, cooking and eating pancakes, driving way too fast over the hills on Taft Hill Road, looking for newborn kittens in the barn's hay loft, fishing, climbing trees at his house, watching a baby colt grow up, learning the right way to stack hay, honking at invisible chickens in the road, letting them drive his car and tractor long before driving age, listening to his childhood stories. He loved to tease the grandkids and always made them laugh. His great grandchildren held a special place in his heart and he loved when they came to visit.

Don was a member of Faith Community Church in Longmont.

Don is survived by his children Debra (Rod) Ferrell, David (Joan) Galyardt, his grandchildren Kimberli (Dustin) Grantham, Katie (Kevin)Sturgill, Neil (Stephanie) Ferrell, Emily (Kevin) Hawkins and Drew (Erika)Galyardt, eight great grandchildren and his sister Carol Arnold. He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Patsy, twin sisters Arlene Propp and Darlene Helzer and one grandchild, Jenna Galyardt.

The family would like to thank Greeley Village for the kind, patient and compassionate care they provided during Don's time with them.

A graveside service followed by a reception will be held on Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 11:30 am at Resthaven Memory Gardens, 8426 US 287, Fort Collins, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Alzheimer's Association.

In the event of inclement weather, please contact Resthaven Memory Gardens regarding possible cancellation of the service.